Resetting mechanism for measuring machines



April s, 1924. 1,489,376

J. L. WHEELER RESETTING MECHANISM FOR MEASURING MACHINES h Filed July 7.1921 l 2 Sheets-5heet l J. L. WHEELER RESETTING yMEGHANISM FOR MEASURINGMACHINES Filed July 7. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 8 1924.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. WHEELER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T THE MEASUREGRAPHOOM- IANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RESETTING MECHANISM FOR MEASURING MACHINES.

Application led July 7, 1921. Serial No. 482,980.

Be it known that I, JOHN L. WHEELER,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis andState of Missouri, have invented new and 'useful Ille/[provenients inResetting Mechanism for easuring Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to measuring marhines and is expected to beespecially useful kwhen applied to a type of measuring machine whichincludes an indicator for measuring short lengths or fractions of theunit ot measuie and a totalizer for indieating the complete total of themeasuring movement or movements. The type of machine illustratedpresents an indica-tor which merely indicates fractions of a yard, and atotalizer which is capable of indicating; a measurement up to 999 yards.Machines of this type are most useful in taking inventories of stocks ofribbon or fabric. The general object of the present invention is toprovide simple 'means for effecting the resetting of the totalizer andthe indicator to zero after measuring.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel features, and in the generalcombination of parts to be particularly described hereinafter. all ofwhich contribute to produce a simple and efficient resetting mechanismfor measuring machines. A preferred embodiment of my inventionv will' beparticularly described in the following Specification, while the broadscope of my invention will be pointed out. in the appended claims.

This invention is regarded as an improve ment over the deviceillustrated in the a plication of Douglas Turner, Ser. i o. 1109.831,for fabric measuring and cost computing machines. 4

In the drawing, y

Figure 1 isa plan of the machine embodving my invention;

Figure Z is a side elevation of 'the machine shown in Figure 1, withcertain parte i broken away and shown in cross section so as to disclosethe mechanism of the instrument in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a plan of the machine with the casing removed;

Figure 4 is a cross section taken about on 5 the line 4--1 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view showing some of the )arts illustrated in Figure 2,but representing them in another position; and' Figure 6 is a verticalcross section taken about on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

The machine comprises a casing 1 in the upper portion of which there isprovided an indicator for indicating,Y relatively short measurediengths. This indicator includes a dial 2 and a pointer 3 cti-operatingwith the dial. In the resent instance this dial is divided intofractions of the unit of measure, thatI is to say, fractions of a yard.Opposite to the-dial a Window 4 is provided in the upper side of thecasing through which number wheels 5, 6, and 7 of a total izer 8 arevisible. (See Figures 1 and 3.) These number wheels are mounted uponashaft 9.

In operating the machine the fabric or ribbon to be measured isintroduced into a gap or throat 10' (see Fig. 2) so that it comesbetween the faces of a measuring roller 11 and a presser roller 1:2. InFigure 2 the resser roller is illustrated in a raisedposition but whenthe measuring movement is taking place it presses the fabric against themeasuring roller.

The measuring roller is rotatably supported in a vertical frame plate13. Any suitable driving means may be provided fory driving theindicator pointer 3 and the num- 4ber wheels of the totalizer 8, fromthe meas uring roller. As illustrated the shaft of the measuring roller11 carries a gear wheel 14 (see Fig. 4) whichmeshes with a gear wheel 15disposed above it, the latter gear wheel being rigid with a pinionliwhich drives a large gear wheel 17. The gear wheel 17 is rigid with apinion 18 which drives two idlers 19, 20, the latter of which mesheswith a gear wheel 21 on the shaft of a bevel pinion 22 meshing with abevel gear 23 on a clutch shaft Q4. This clutch shaft carries a clutchmember 25 cooperatingwith another clutch member QG which is attached tothe shaft 9 of the totalizer. Evi dent-ly when the clutch composed ofthe clutch members Q5 and QG is closed. the movement of the measuringroller will be imparted to the number 'wheels of the totalizer.

In order to drive the indicator pointer 3 the gear wheels 17 and 18 areprovided with a shaft 27 (see Fig. 4) and this shaft carries a bevelgear 28 which meshes with a bevel `fear 2Q on a vertical shaftO. (SeeFig. el.) This vertical shaft. carries a clutch member 31 co-operatingwith a clutch member 32 the spindle 33 whereof is rotatably mounted inthe center of the dial 2.

The clutch composed ot the clutch members 31 and 32 is normally heldclosed by a coil spring 34 which forces the clutch member 31 up againstthe clutch member 32. However, the clutch may be opened through theagency of a rocking plate 35, one edge of which is secured in a rocksha-ft.4 mounted to rock in the upper frame 37 oft-hemmchine. Thisclutch is adapted to be opened through the operation of a horizontalshift bar 3S which is mounted to slide longitudinally in the upper frame37 of the machine. This bar carries a rigid saddle plate 39 which has ahorizontal extension 40 and a vertical extension Lil. The middle portionof the vertical extension 41 is attached to the bar 3S and the lowerportion is provided with a horizontal slot 42 guided on a screw -l3secured in a part of the frame 3T. On the under side of the horizontalextension 40 the plate 39 is provided with a cam 4l, and when the har 38is shifted in the. direction indicated by the arrow in Figure G this camLil engages a roller 45 which is carried by the edge of the plate 35,the action of the. cam being to depress the roller and thereby rock theplate 35 downwardly on the axis of the roel; shaft 36; this opens theclutch 3l, 32. The same movementA of the shift bar 38 operates to rotatethe spindle ot the pointer. For this purpose the spindle is providedwith a heart-shaped cam 4G which may be formed of tivo superposedplates. (See Fig. al.) The under side of the. plate fltl is providedWith a spring-pressed dog t7 (see Fig. l) the point o which Will engagethe cam itl and will rotatie the cam until the. point. of the dog l?linally comes to rest in the notch 48 of the cam. The pointer 8 ivillthen be in its Zero position.

ln order to facilitate the stopping of the pointer 3 exactly in the zeroposition this machine is provided vvith e -flotent `pau'l 49 (see Fig.il) which is provided with ay spring o@ which tends to press it against.the circumferential face 5l of the clutch member This pavvl 40 has atail E32 which in the normal position of the bar 3S is engaged by a toeon the plate St, and this toe operatesto hold the detent paivl lt) awayfrom the l'atje ot the clutch member. However. when the har 9S isshifted toward the let't` viewed in Figures d and tt. the toe 53 is ontot the waff of the tail 52 and the spring 5t), therefore. vfill hohl thepa\vl lil against the 'tace nl of the clutch member .is soon as thepointer or hand il arrives at the Zero position the end ol` the detentpuvvl vtrl then drops into a notch in the tace ot` the cluch member andpositively stops the pointer in this position.

I shall noiv describe the resetting mechanism which operates to shift.the bar 3S to open the clutch 3l, 32, and reset the pointer 3 to zero;this same mechanism also operates to o )en the clutch 25, 26 and effectthe return ol the number wheels 5, (l and T to their zero position. Thismechanism includes a resetting head or thumb head 55 which is .movablymounted on a carrier and is provided with means for effecting aconnection to the shaft 9 of the totalizer to rotate it in the resettinf movement. However, this resetting hea( is normally held a shortdistance away so that this connect-ion normally is open. I provide aclutch shifter for opening the clutch 25, 2G, and when this clutchshifter is operated the connection is effected from the thumb head 55 tothe shaft 9. The rotation of the thumb head then resets the totalizer 8to zero. After this has been effected the carrier which supports thethumb head is actuated by pressing laterally on the resetting head andthis lateral movement effects the shifting of the bar 38 Which returnsthe indicator to zero. A peculiar relation of the clutch shifter and the`arrie-r enables the carrier to hold the clutch 25, Q6, open until theresetting movement of the totalizer is completed, and until theinitiation of the movement of the carrier which effects the movement ofthe bar 38. The carrier referred to above. is a lever in the form of atriangular plate 56 (see Fig. 5) and this plate is pivotally mounted onthe frame of the machine at 57. A link 58 connects this plate by meansof a. post 59 with the saddle plate 39. A large coil spring Gt) connectsa. pin Gl on this link with a portion of the' vframe 3i' and tends topull the lever it in a direction to effect a connection between thethumb head 55 and the shaft 9. The ronnection between the thumb head andthe shaft D is etl'ected through the meshing of a gear (l2 carriedrigidly on the shaft 9 and :t pinion 63 rigid with the thumb head. ithcing untlerstood that the thumb head is rotatably mounted in the lever5G. Contact between the pinion (lil and the. gear G2 is pre vented whenthe machine is measuring, through the agency of a stop (il which prt/ejeets laterally trom a clutch shifter (15. This clutch shifter is a flatbar guided through a trame plate titl (sce Fig. Il). near the gear (32.but its outer end is pivotally attached by a screw tti' to a clutchplate GS pivot allj; supported at (S9 and which engages acireu'tterential groove TO in the clutch member The end of the. lever 50is formed with a totor shoulder Tl which engages the stop.

lilith thisl ton'strnction it is evident that if the thumb head T2 andthe end of the flu-teh shifter "i5 is shoved inwardly, the clutchshifter opens the clutch. Furthermore, this lll() lit) movement willbrin the sto 64 out of alignment with the e ge of the lever 56; thiswill release the lever 56 and the spring 60 will then pull it up andbring the pinion 63 into mesh with the ear 62. This will corres ond tothe dott outline of the lever 56 i lust-rated in Figure 2, (and see Fig.3).

In order to bring the pinion against the gear with a yieldin movement Iprovide a ost motion connection between the link 58 and the lever 56consisting of a slot 73 through which a pin or screw 74 passes. Thispermits a slight play or yielding of the pinion 63 in case it does notmesh nicely with the gear 62. However', a spring 75 connects the pin 61aforesaid with the side of the lever 56 and, of course, by reason of theslot 73 the gears 63 and 62 are really pulled together by a tensionexerted in the spring Now it is evident that when the lever 56 isshifted by the sprin so as to move it up into the position in icated indotted lines in Figure 2, its end will project across in front of thestop 64 and will prevent the sto 64 from moving out again. Hence thiswil hold the clutch open. In this position of the lever 56 the operatorof the machine thenv rotates the resetting head 55 and this movement isimparted to the gears 62 and 63 and to shaft 9, and resets the counterwheels 5, 6 and 7 to zero. When the operator observes the three'zeros onthe number ywheels appearing at the window 4 he then shoves down on theresetting head 55 and this gives a pull to the link 58 which effects ashifting movement of the bar 38 which has already been described andwhich effects the return of the pointer 3 to zero. Of course, theinitiation of the hand actuated swinging movement of the lever 56 whichhas just been described removes the end of the lever from the path ofthe stop 64 and this permits the clutch spring 24a to close the clutch.

I shall now briefl describe` the general mode of operation o themachine.

The ribbon or other fabric to be measured is pulled through the gap 10between the rollers 11 and 12 which would then be in Contact with eachother. This rotates t-he measuring roller 11 and its movement isimparted through the gear train 14, l5, etc. to the gear 2l whichoperates through the bevel gears 22 and 23 and the clutch 25, 26, todrive the number Wheels of the totalizer. Through the shaft 27 (see Fig.4) and the bevel gears 28 and 29 the vertical shaft 30 1s driven andthis shaft through the clutch 31, 32, drives the spindle 33 carrying thepointer 3.

After the n'ieasuring movement and when it is desired to reset theindicating pointer l and the totalizer to zero, the operator sim- )lyshoves in on the thumb head This opens the clutch 25, 26, and alsopermits the spring-actuated shifting movement of the lever 56, therebybringing the pinion 63 into mesh with the gear 62. At the same time, theend of the lever 56 moves across the face of the stop 64 and holds theclutch 25, 26, open. lhe operator then rotates the resetting head 55until the number wheels of the totalizer all indicate zero. The operatorthen swings the lever 56 down by pressing downwardly on the resettinghead and this effects the return of the pointer 3 to zero. When theoperator releases the lever 56 it is returned again to its normalposition, shown in full lines in Figure 2, at which time the shoulder 71of the lever is engaged by the stop 64 which holds the gears 62 and 63out of mesh.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described hereinis only one of the many embodiments my invention may take and I do notwish to be limited in the kpractice of my invention, nor in my claims,

a resetting head. having means for eflecting a connection to thetotalizer shaft to reset the same to zero, a movably supported carriersup orting the resettting head, a clutchshifter or opening the clutch,having means for normally engaging the carrier to'prevent the resettinghead from effecting the said connection to the totalizer shaft, andoperating automatically in its clutch-opening movement to release theresetting head and thereby permit the resetting head to be connected tothe totalizer shaft to enable the same to be reset to zero by rotationof the resetting head, and means for resetting the said indicator tozero, actuated by a movement of the carrier after the totalizer has beenreset to zero.

2. In a measuring machine indicating device having an indicator and atotalizer, the tot-alizer having a shaft driven by a clutch, a resettinghead having means for effecting a connection to the totalizer shaft toreset the same to zero a movably supported carrier supporting theresetting head, a clutchshifter for opening the clutch, having means fornormally enga ing the carrier 'to prevent the resetting hea fromeffecting the said connection to the totalizer shaft, and operatingautomatically in its clutch-opening movement to release the resettinghead and thereby permit the resetting head to be connected to thetotalizer shaft to enable the same to be reset to zero by rotation ofthe resetting head, means for resetting the said indicator to zero,actuated by a movement of the carrier after the totalizer has been Ala.

reset to Zero, and automatic means tor closing the clutch when thecarrier ismoved to return the indicator to Zero.

3. In a measuring machine indicating device having an indicator and atotalizer, the totalizler having a shat't driven by a clutch, aresetting head having means for etlecting a connection to the totalizershaft to reset the same to zero. a lever constituting a carrier for theresetting head` a clutch-shifter t'or opening the clutch having meansfor normally engaging theI lever to prevent the re setting head tromeffecting the said connection to the totalizer shaft, and operatingautomatically in its clutch-opening movement to release the resettinghead and thereby permit the same to be connected to the totalizer shaftto enable the totaliZer to be reset to zero by rotating the resettingheadv` and means tor resetting the said indicator to Zero, actuated by amovement of they lever after the totalizer has been reset to zero.

l. In a measuring machine indicating device having an indicator and atotalizer, the totalizer having a shaft driven by a clutch, a gear wheelrigid with the totalizer shalt', a. resetting head having a pinion tomesh with the gear wheel for resetting the totalizer to Zero, a levercarrying the resetting head, a spring connected with the lever andtending to move the same in a direction to bring the pinion intoengagement with the gear wheel, a clutch-shifter for opening the clutch,having means for norn'ially engaging the lever to prevent the pinionfrom meshing with the gear wheel, and operating automatically in itsclutch-opening movement to release the lever and permit the pinion toengage the gear wheel and thereby enable the totalizer to be reset tozero by rotating the resetting head, and means for resetting the saidindicator to zero actuated by a movement ot the lever after thetotalizer has been reset to zero.

ln a measuring machine indicating device having an indicator and atotalizer, the totalizer having a sha'tt driven by a clutch, a gearwheel rigid with the totalizer shaft, a resetting head having a pinionto mesh with the gear wheel for resetting the totalizcr to zero, a levercarrying the resetting head` a spring connected with the lever andtending to move the same'in a direction to bring the pinion intoengagement with the gear wheel, a clutch-shifter tor opening the clutch,hav ing a stop normally engaging the lever to prevent the pinion trommeshing with the gear wheel and operating to move out of engagement withthe lever during the clutchopening movement", thereby releasing 'thelever. and permitting its springto shiftitv and bring the pinion intoengagement with the gear wheel to enable the totalizer to be reset tozero by rotating the resetting bead, and

means lor resetting the said indicator to zero actuated by ahand-actuated s\\'inging movement ot the lever a't'ter the totalizer hasbeen reset to Zero.

(i. ln a measuring machine indicating device having an indicator and atotalizer, the totalizer having a shaft driven hy a clutch, a gear wheelrigid with the totalizer shaft, a resetting head having a pinion to meshwith the gear wheel for resetting the totalizcr to Zero, a levercarrying theresetting head, a spring connected with the lever andtending to move the same in a direction to bring the pinion intoengagement with the gear wheel, a clutch-shifter for opening the clutch,having a stop normally engaging the, lever to preventI the pinion frommeshing with the gear wheel and operating to move out of engagement withthe lever during the clutch-opening movement, thereby releasing thelever, and permitting its spring to shift it and bring the pinion intoengagement with the gear wheel to enable the totalizer to be reset toZero by rotating the resetting head, means for resetting the saidindicator to zero actuated by a hand-actuated swinging movement of thelever after the totalizer has been reset to zero, a clutch-springtending to close the clutch, the clutch-opening movcment ot theclutch-shifter co-ol'ierating with the spring actuated shitting movementot the lever, to bring the stop into engagement with the side of thelever and thereby enable the lever to hold the clutch open until theswinging movement of the lever occurs.

7. In a measuring machine indicating device having an indicator and atotalizer` the totalizer having a shaftl driven by a clutch. means foropening the clutch, a. gear carried by the totalizer shaft, a resettinghead 'carrying a pinion, a lever carrying the resetting head, andcapable of assuming ay position which will maintain the. pinion in meshwith the gear to enable the resetting head to reset the totalizer tozero, and means for resetting the said indicator to Zero actuated by amovement of the lever after the totalizer has been reset.

8. In a measuring machine indicating' device having an indicator and atotalizer, the totalizer having a shaft driven by a clutch, means foropening the clutch, a gear carried by the totalizer shaft, a resettinghead carrying a inion, a lever carrying the resetting head). a springtending to pull the lever toward the said gear to enable the pinion tomesh with the gear for rese ting the totalizer to Zero, and means forresetting the said `indicator to Zero actuated by a movement ot thelever after the totalizer has been reset.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN L. VHEELER.

